# NTSB FTW95LA072: Piper PA-12, N2820M, La Porte, TX, December 24, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 24, 1994, 16:36 local (22:36 UTC) - Place: La Porte, TX - Coordinates: 29.65978, -95.03936 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6598&lon=-95.0394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19326 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19326/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA072 ## Probable cause LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AS RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE GLASS BOWL ON THE GASCOLATOR. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AT THE PILOT'S DISPOSAL TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - fuel system,strainer - failure,total (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE ENGINE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 1,000 FEET. THE PILOT LANDED ON A NARROW DIRT ROAD ON A LEVEE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE MAIN LANDING GEARS SUNK INTO SOFT MUD AND RUTS, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER COMING TO REST ON ITS BACK. THE PILOT, WHO IS ALSO THE CERTIFICATED MECHANIC THAT HAD RECENTLY REBUILT THE AIRPLANE, STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT, HE FOUND FUEL LEAKING FROM AROUND THE GLASS BOWL IN THE GASCOLATOR ASSEMBLY. THE PILOT ADDED THAT HE RESEATED THE GLASS BOWL AND SECURED THE LOCKING SCREW WITH SAFETY WIRE. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE GASCOLATOR GLASS BOWL WAS MISSING, RESULTING IN THE FUEL STARVATION OF THE ENGINE. ## Factual narrative On December 24, 1994, at 1636 central standard time, a Piper PA-12, N2820M, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near La Porte, Texas. The private pilot sustained minor injuries, while his two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. According to the pilot, the airplane departed the La Porte Municipal Airport (T41) en route to Baytown, Texas. While in cruise flight at approximately 800 to 1,000 feet above the the ship channel, the engine lost power without warning. The pilot added that he elected to land on a narrow dirt road on a levee approximately 4 miles northeast of the airport. During the landing roll, the main wheels sank into soft mud, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over to the inverted position. The 1946 model airplane had accumulated 54 hours since the airplane was completely rebuilt by the pilot. Prior to the flight, the pilot stated that he found fuel leaking from around the glass bowl in the gascolator/strainer assembly. He further stated that he reseated the glass bowl and secured it with safety wire. The pilot, who is also an FAA certificated airframe/powerplant mechanic with inspection authority, performed a post accident examination of the wreckage at the accident site. Examination of the gascolator assembly, part number 750-268, revealed a fracture at the "T" fitting where the nut is threaded upwards to hold the bowl in place. The glass gascolator was not recovered, but the safety wire remained in place. The pilot suspects that the glass bowl might have also cracked during installation and fallen off during flight resulting in the fuel starvation of the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2820M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2820M), registered now, S/N 12-1172, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12 - Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-1172 - Airframe hours: 1543 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Flynt, Gary J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 1994, 54 hours before - Departed: T41, TX - Destination: HPY, BAYTOWN, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 339 total, 35 in this make and model, 305 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 6 knots - Visibility: 11 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: EFD, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19941224042189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941224042189A), Dec 24, 1994: Piper PA12, Laporte, TX, Substantial damage. Engine lost power at low altitude over a canal. Landed on levee. Nosed over recent installed strainer bowl came off From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.